Chelsea Make Man United Striker Wayne Rooney Their Number One Summer Transfer Target

Chelsea have set their sights on Man United striker Wayne Rooney and Blues owner Roman Abramovich refuses to be put off by the Old Trafford side’s insistence that the 27 year old will not be sold.

The Sunday Mirror believe that Abramovich is willing to spend upwards of £30m to win the race to sign Rooney and is keen to make sure that his West London side are at the front of the queue if the Premier League title holders fail to persuade Rooney to withdraw his transfer request.

Chelsea will match Rooney’s £250k a week salary as Abramovich fights tooth and nail to bring in the Man United man as he looks to bring in some much needed attacking prowess.

Incoming Man United boss David Moyes will look to persuade Rooney to change his mind but given the fractious relationship between the pair, that dates back to when the former Everton youngster left the Goodison Park side in contentious circumstances, such an attempt seems doomed to failure.

Rooney has played a less pivotal role in this season’s Premier League title success than in previous triumphs and has been used in a more withdrawn attacking role to accommodate Robin Van Persie.

Chelsea are in desperate need of a prolific forward, with Fernando Torres continuing to fail to deliver at least in Premier League terms, the Spaniard managing to score regularly in cup football but going some 16 top flight league games without a goal.

Demba Ba has also proved something of a disappointment since his January move to the club, scoring just twice since signing in January.

Rooney may be keen on a move back to a central striking role, after all he did manage a career best of 34 goals in that position last season, and has managed just 12 Premier League goals this season in his supporting role.

Wayne Rooney is Man United’s fourth highest goal-scorer of all time having scored a total of 197 goals for the club.

He has been withdrawn from the club’s squad for the final game of the season at West Brom.